True Fate (30 page)

"We have a meeting tonight so you guys will be
on your own. Stay in the room and stay alert.” Nia said going up to them both
and giving them each a hug. "I love y'all. I’m sorry I don’t have a better
explanation than that." Nia said. This was a huge weight off her
shoulders.

"We have to go.” Aaron told Nia looking at his
watch.

"Okay, I'll answer any questions later, I
promise guys. We're going to get to Aunt Amarie as quickly as possible.” she informed
them as she headed for the door.

Rhea went to Nia and stood directly in front of
her, "Are you okay?” she asked her a look of concern marring her features.

Nia gave a small laugh, "Sure, but I'll be
even better after I talk to Aunt Amarie. Just be careful and call me
immediately if there's any trouble at all. Love you.” Nia said wrapping Rhea in
a tight hug.

"Love you too Nia.” she responded and
reluctantly released her. She had never seen Nia look so out of sorts. It was
worrying to say the least.

After closing the door behind Aaron and Nia Rhea
turned to Adam, "Well we have a lot to talk about.” she told him as he
blew out a long breath,

"I'm listening.” he said warily

###

Aaron grabbed Nia's hand, they had fifteen minutes
left. "Let's go for a short walk okay?” he suggested to Nia as she leaned
her head on his shoulder.

"Okay, I'm in no hurry to see Lilith anyway,” hand
in hand they headed towards the side door of the hotel Nia thought she could use
the time to clear her head.

"You don't trust her either do you?” Aaron
asked surprising Nia by extending his own privacy bubble.

"OMG! You did it!” she said stopping to
applaud his new found talent.

"Jeez, it's not that big a deal.” he said with
a chuckle, happy to see her smiling again.

"Sure it is!” she exclaimed wrapping her arms
around his neck and kissing it gently.

"Okay, it's pretty cool, but I asked you a
question.” he said, reminding her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

Nia sighed, "I have no idea why, but no, I
don't trust Lilith at all. She's too... I don't know. Fake?” she said pursing
her lips in thought.

Aaron nodded, "Yeah I get a bad vibe from her
too, she seems wicked somehow so I'm leery myself.
We'll
just have to keep our eyes open and our minds blocked when she's around."
he said and Nia agreed quickly.

"My thoughts exactly!” she said with a
smile. Aaron leaned in and planted a quick kiss on the tip of her nose and they
turned and started back the way they’d come.

Whether they trusted her or not they couldn't
keep Lilith waiting forever.

Chapter
16

Darragh
went to his room, grabbed a few things and laid on his bed. In his hand was a
silky, crimson red scarf. He put himself into sleep quickly, he had less than
an hour to complete his task and at that moment he was glad she'd left the
personal item behind, it would be easier to connect to her that way. It wasn't
going to be easy, he hadn't even been forgiven yet, but he had to try. He knew
she would be angry and he was prepared to deal with that, but he also knew
she'd forgive him eventually.

He felt the buzz of the dreamscape before he
opened his eyes he hadn't been here in a while, not since Lilith had summoned
him. He and Savannah had a very long history and he'd do absolutely anything
for her, except say no to Lilith at his own peril, it just wasn't an option at
the time.

Rumors were circulating of corruption and rogue
hunters working for Lilith. They even said some Guardians were being
unrightfully banished and he wasn't going to chance it.

Quickly walking towards the trees he was feeling
excited already feeling that she was close by. Taking ten cautious steps in
there was a whoosh, then a thwack, and his head snapped forward. Things got blurry
and faded to black.

Savannah stood over him and smiled when she
recognized the face, raising her hands she summoned the wind to come and aid
her. The air swirled around her and she whispered what she wanted. It lifted
him just to a hover above the ground, she took him to a couch she manifested in
the shade.

She stood over him and looked at him, her
favorite thing had been watching him sleep, and he was so peaceful like that.
Darragh was the most sincere and diligent man she'd ever known, she enjoyed
every second of their time together. She really had missed him, they hadn't
been together as more than friends since she'd been promised to another man.
That was when their world had been forever changed

.

Fate had a different plan, apparently, the man
she was to spend her forever with died. The pain of a loss of a bond mate is
indescribable. She didn't love him, not like she had loved Darragh, but she
cared and felt his adoration through their bond. Darragh had been there for her
and never once pressured her to fall back into what they had been. They were in
love long before she was promised and it ripped their world apart. She was
angry at fate for choosing someone else for her. Now she wondered if perhaps it
just wasn't their time yet.

She couldn't imagine forever with anyone but him,
but she wouldn't tell him as much, not right now. First he had some suffering
to do for leaving her to do a job for Lilith. She really needed him during the
past year and he'd been gone doing, she didn't even know what.

Yes, she was angry and yes she was going to make
him work for her affection this time. In the past year she had no one and her
loss of a promised had made her hard. It has been said that it scars one's
soul. The pain when it had happened was nothing less than excruciating. He was
thousands of miles away when it happened but she knew instantly. Darragh went
to her side as soon as he'd heard and didn't leave her until she was able to
shake the shock of it all and function again. Much to his 'love' interest at
the time, Isabel's dismay. Just the thought of Isabel made her skin crawl, she
didn't really know her but she sure did hate her.

Their history went further than their romance.
They'd known each other all their lives been through so much together. She knew
him better than she knew herself and vice versa. It had to be serious whatever
brought him here on Lilith’s time.

Savannah watched the rise and fall of his breaths
as the memories flooded her mind, times that she watched him sleep while he
held her close. He used to tell her he'd never let anyone hurt her and to this
day he's held that promise true.

Flicking her wrists she stretched her palms over
Darragh’s face. Water came down off the leaves of the trees and up the blades
of grass, it gathered there just above her palm. She blew a cold wind into it
to chill it and dumped it onto his face with a satisfied smirk.

Darragh choked and coughed sitting up quickly,
being jerked back into consciousness. "Well, well, well, if it isn't
Lilith’s little errand boy.” she said oozing sarcasm and crossing her arms in
front of herself.

"It's nice to see you too Savannah.” Darragh
said wiping his face off and shaking out his black hair. He stared at her with
her auburn locks falling in her face. It was way longer than he remembered and
her grey eyes looked almost soft and welcoming. She gathered herself quickly
and they changed to distant and furious in a flash.

He was happy to see her regardless of her anger.
He still loved her but she was cold as ice since she'd lost her promised. She
was a fierce warrior and stayed on the edge of the realms offering her unique
collection of talents and skills to the highest bidder. Her loyalty was with
herself and of course Darragh, though that was a rough subject still.

Savannah absolutely loathed Lilith, though she
would work for her if the money was right. Lilith didn't particularly like
Savannah either, but with her skills, she wasn't about to let her defect to
Eliara's side. She allowed Savannah the freedom to do as she pleased, so long
as it didn't put anyone in her realm in jeopardy.

"I don't have too long, I'm here on
business.” he said sadly.

"Ha! You mean Lilith’s business?” she
scoffed.

"No, my own.” he said slowly looking to meet
her shocked eyes.

"And what business is that?” she asked eyes
narrowed placing a hand on her hip.

"We found her Savannah, the girl, the
prophecy is true. All the way down to her not knowing who she truly is. I need
your help to get her to her destination. So that she can have everything
revealed to her.", he said, pausing so it could sink in.

Savannah sat slowly and looked up at him and it
was obvious her gears were turning, "Are you certain?” she asked slowly.

"I've never been surer, well maybe in one
other instance, but yes I am." he said cheeks reddening at the admission
of his certainty of her being the one for him.

He knew that she knew what he was talking about
and quickly added, "We're passing too close to the realms soon.” he
explained rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I can't risk someone
getting through the glamour before she learns to properly defend herself.” he
added and Savannah just stared at him contemplating but not ready to answer so
he continued.

"She knows she has control of the elements
but she doesn't know why or how to use that control. I thought perhaps you
could track whoever is trying to get through and help train her.", Darragh
said staring into her eyes with all the sincerity, but speedily before she
could change the subject to groveling at her feet.

"Wait you have been gone for what, a year
now and this is what you come to me with?” she responded seemingly angry.

"Savannah, please. Don't be mad at me, I've
been busy. I've been guarding her from afar this whole time, I had no idea who
she was or why I was keeping an eye on her until about a week ago. But now. Now
I know, it's her, and you can help me prove it." he said inching towards
her slowly.

"I'm really sorry. And I really miss you.”
he told her.

They had yet to be together in that way again but
they had always remained friends. He wanted to be a part of her life no matter
the role.

Savannah contemplated his words glancing into his
mind seeing truth and something else she wasn't ready to address. She'd had a
feeling he had never stopped loving her but she didn't know how to be with
someone after what had happened to her.

"If I go with you, I will get full
disclosure in the details? And you will answer any questions I have?” she asked
skeptically.

"Of course I will. If I know the answer it's
yours.” he said humbly and she knew he meant it.

She let out a long breath. "You know I can't
say no to you right?” she asked with a wry smile forming, trying to make an
effort to lighten the mood.

Not able to take it anymore he moved to embrace
her and it was gladly returned.

"I really have missed you.” she whispered as
her eyes roamed over him head to toe.

"I've missed you too.” he said leaning back
to meet her eyes.

They shared a smile, then he spoke reluctantly
trying not to do what his mind was urging him to, "Avery has been my
partner. We have been on this assignment for a year. And she'll be there too.”
he said wincing.

Savannah took a deep breath. "You leave her
to me. Who else is with you?” she asked almost dreading his answer.

"Of course there's Nia, she's the girl. Rian
who they are calling Eric, don’t ask, and Aaron he's Nia's promised and her
Guardian, he's unaware like Nia. They’re already bonded, Lilith did it herself.
Eric swore a protector’s oath to her as well, she has his Soul Stone.” he
informed her as quickly as he could, he was running out of time.

"Wait? Wasn't... How did Rian get into the
mortal realm?” she asked clearly bewildered.

"Lilith chose him, Savannah. I don't know
why she granted it. I don't think she realized how close he and Avery were.” he
said slowly.

"Whoa, have they? I mean are they promised?”
she asked with a gulp.

"Yes." he breathed with a puzzled look.

"How...” he started to ask.

“Later, please.” she told him pleading with her
eyes.

She'd compel him if she had to but he looked deep
in her eyes and saw no deception just uncertainty.

 
He gave a
slight nod and a clamped smile. "We have to go, are you ready to transfer
realms?” he asked her.

"Sure, I can summon anything I need
anywhere, I'm talented that way.” she said laughing.

He held out his arms and she stepped into his
embrace and laid her head on his chest taking in the feel of his broad expanse
of muscle and the scent of his minty soap. He placed his arms around her and
rested his head on hers. The world around them began to shudder and fall away
replaced by temporary blackness.

She felt a softness beneath her and recognized
she was now horizontal as she blinked a few times and the ceiling went in and
out of focus. Slowly she moved to the edge of the bed where Darragh was already
standing. He didn't know how long it had been since she'd travelled that way
but from the looks of her it had been awhile.

She tried to focus her eyes and got momentarily
dizzy so she put her head between her legs. Darragh went and got her a cold
water from the mini fridge and handed it to her. He got a grateful smile in
return.

"Thanks.", she said sounding a bit
weak.

She drank half at once and stood up and wobbled
for a second. Darragh moved in to steady her but she shooed his hand away.

"So, tell me more about this job. I don't
think I'm ready for the other conversation we need to have.” she said barely
meeting Darragh's eyes with a small smile.

"First I need to know if you want Lilith to
know you're along on this job. Or if you want to be here without her knowledge,
that's fine with me too.” he said knowing she was in control of that part.

"I think I should remain under the radar on
this one. If that girl is who you say she is, we could use an element of
surprise if things go sideways.” she told him and he nodded.

###

Eric and Avery sat in silence, he hadn't said a
word to her since she'd voiced her unwillingness to cross Lilith. She wasn't
sure if he was angry, he was blocking her from his mind again.